The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 4, 1904, Page 4

THE SAN FRANCISCO SUNDAY CALL. HE planting and organization of the Order of Knights Templar in California and on the Pacific t was commenced in the nth of September, A. D. 1852. At that time the subordinate bodies of rs in the United encampment < n Franci; ramed a petition to the E 0. The petition was y Knight Benjamin Brown neral grand recorder . C., and in due time 3oston, M erein wer F. Knott, Garrett ph Waterms T. Wilson, Jam H. Folger anu 2, 18 as completed by llowing the appointment of officers: Sir Knights ade, prelate; Luther Henry A. Cobb, J. Alex- Wilson John H. G sentinel. don issued by the General G pment. Officers under the char- elected and San impment No. 1 was thus fully in- 1d started upon the career of and prosperity, which has until it has now become one largest, most noted and most ial of the bodies under the 1 of the General Grand Encamp- ment of the United States and the first formation nk and character on acific st. mber, 1856, the General Grand ent at its Triennial Conclave ndry changes in the names of 1 bodies under its jurisdic- i the name of San Francisco ampment No. 1 was changed to San rancisco Commandery No. 1 and its f officer as thereafter entitled mander. ir Knight Leander Ran- was on March 5, 1857, re-elected ander; Sir Knight James C. L. sworth, generalisstmo, and Sir <night Alexander G. Abell captain neral. In 1858, at the annual election, Knight Alexander G. Abell was en commander, Sir Knight James C. L. Wadsworth was re-elected gen- eralissimo and Sir Knight Ei Cook captain general. This was the last ction prior to the formation of the Grand Commandery of California. On 1853, Sacramento Encampment 2 was organized and received a charter from the General Grand En- campment on February 6, 1854 On February 20, 1856, the General Grand campment issued a dispensation for the formation of an encampment at the City of Columbia, in Tuolumne County, under the name of Pacific Encampment No. 3. It recelved a charter on Sep- tember 10, 1856. The titles of these two bodies, under the change adopted by the General Grand Encampment, were subsequently changed to the term commandery. The Grand Commandery of the State held its first conclave in the city of San Francisco on August 11, 1858. We may here remark incidentally that all ithe grand officérs at this conclave have isince passed over the Dark River. At this conclave Sir Knight Ell Cook presented a petition from San Fran- cisco Commandery praying that its name be changed and that it be here- after named and known as California Commandery No. 1. The prayer was granted and since that time the com- mandery has been so known and des- fdgnated upon the registry of the Grand Commandery. The names and time of service of those wino have presided as command- ers of the commandery since its or- ganization to the present time are as follows: Gregory Yale, 1852-53; Leander Ran- som, 1854-55-56-67; Alexander Gurdon Abell, 1858-59-60-61-62-63-64 and 1872; ‘William Norris. 1865; Willilam Mason Rundell, 1866-67; Charles Louis Wig- gin, 1868-69-70; Hiram Throop Graves, 1871; Joseph Bonaparte Scotchler, 1873- ‘William Henry Linow Barnes, 1875- 76-77-79-80-81; George Tisdale Bromley, 1876; Reuben Hedley Lloyd, 1882-83; Franklin Henry Day, 1884; Joseph Mil- ler Litchfield, 1885; Henry Haven Pear- son, 1886; Michael James Keating, 1887; Brilsford Pease Flint, 1888; Peter Dean, 1889; Richard Beverly Cole, 1890; the Grand Lodge of Mas ¢ Qcricczs 2 Y rrerr . Thomas Kyle, 1891: Washington Gen- eral Winter, 1892; Eugene Nelson Deu- prey, 1893; Reuben Preston Hurlbut, 189 Martin Jones, 1896-97; John P. Fraser, 1898-99; John Tonningsen, 1900: \COITITANIEL. - fi 2 <) well as Governor of the State. He was elected grand junior warden of the Grand Encampment. In 1886 Sir Knight Reuben H. Lloyd was elected grand commander and in the same year, at - California Commandery, No. 1. By Eminent Sir Charles M. Plum | Ghe Annals @}' 7 W. H. Frank Titus, 1901; Carroll Cook, 1 Gustave Henry Umbsen, 1903; Thomas Henry Brown, 1904. Since the of the com- mandery the present time there have been admitted by initlation and affiliation 1200 members. Deduct- ing the rumber who have died and those who for other causes have ceased to be members, there remains in active membership 665. There have been no suspensions and but two expulsions for unknightly conduct in all the yea o the commander) a most remarkable showing and one that speaks well for the general character of the members ship. Of those who have been members ol the commandery one, Sir Reuben H. Lloyd, has held the position of grand T ter of the Grand Encampment of the United States; twelve, Leander Ransom, Alexander G. Abell, William M n Rundell, Charles L. Wiggin, William W. Traylor, William A. Davies, Hiram T. Graves, George C. Perkins Reuben H. Lloyd and Tristam Bur- gess have held that of grand commander of California; four, W. A. Davies, Leonidas E. Pratt, George C. Perkins and W. W. Traylor, have had the honor of being grand master of s of Cali- fornia; two served as graj secretary of the Grand Lodge of California, Alex- ander G. Abell for thirty-five years, George Johnson, the incumbent. for fourteen years; two, James A. Mc- Dougall and George C. Perki have been Governors of California; two, James A. McDougall and George C. Perkins, have honored the State as members of the Senate of the United States; and one, John C. Burch, as a member of the House of Represent- atives. Many have held positions of prominence in California. Altogether California Commandery has had a goodly share of honors. both Masonic and civic, and her influence in Masonic and civil matters has always been po- tential and uplifting. During the years 1876, 1877 and 1873 Sir Knight Hiram T. Graves was grand commander of California. In 1877 he was present at the Triennial Conclave, held in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. Be- ing greatly impressed with the gather- ing of thousands on that occasion, on his return he undertook the task of enthusing the Sir Knights of California in relation to the matter of attending and participating in the conclaves of the order. By his strenuous exertions a California Battalion was formed from the commanderies of the State for the purpose of attending the conclave to be held at Chicago i~ 1880. California Commandery participated and a dele- gation of some two hundred and fifty were present at that conclave with the intention to have San Francisco chosen as the place for the conclave of 1883, Success crowned their efforts and in 1883 the Grand Encampment assembled in this city. California Com- mandery acted a leading part in the entertainment of the visitors on that occasion and acquitted herself with - credit. George C. Perkins | was at that time grand com- maxnder of the State, as o the Triennial Conclave, which assem- bled at St. Louis, he was elected grand senior warden of the Grand Encamp- ment. Califernia Commandery united with Oakland and Golden Gate com- manderies and Sir Knight Lioyd was conducted to St. Louis in manner be- fitting his rank in the order. In 1889 Sir Knight Peter Dean, being commander of California Commandery, escorted the Grand Commandery of California to the twenty-fourth Trien- nial Conclave, which assembled in the city of Washington, D. C. California is a mounted commandery, and on this occasion appeared with full ranks among 20,000 Knights in, review.on Pennsylvania avenue in that city. It was a proud occasion when, as the pride of the parade, with black horses handsomely caparisoned, the Sir Knights passed the reviewing stand of President Harrison, in front of the White House. A similar display was made at Den- ver by the commandery at the twenty- fifth Triennial Conclave in 1892, when it acted as escort to the Grand Com- mandery of California. The twenty-sixth Triennial Conclave assembled in Boston in 1895. This was one of the largest conclaves ever held, it being estimated that 25,000 Knights appeared in the line of parade. Califor- nia Commandery again bore away the palm. She gave a magnificent banquet to the members of the Grand Encamp- ment, at which were present the Gov- ernor of Massachusetts and his staff, the Governors of several other States and many State and city officials. By her action at Boston she established a reputation for open-hearted munificence that has made her name and the name of the State all over this great land a synonym for hospitality. The twenty-seventh Triennial Con- clave was held at the city of Pittsburg in October, 1898. California Command- ery escorted the Grand Commandery of the State, the escort of Sir Knight Reuben H. Lloyd, the deputy grand master of the Grand Encampment. At this conclave Sir Knight Lloyd attained the goal of honorable ambition, being unanimously elected grand master of the Grand Encampment of the United States. He had won the spurs of hon- orable distinction by faithful and ef- ficlent and knightly service in the cause of Masonry and Templarism. He had served his Masonic lodge as master; his commandery for four years as captain general, for two years as grand géner- alissimo, for one year as deputy grand commander and for two years as grand commander. In 1886 he was chosen se- nior warden of the Grand Encampment, in*®1889 grand captain general, in 1892 grand generalissimo, in 1895 deputy grand master and in 1898 grand master. His elevation to the highest office in the gift of this great order was deemed a most distinguished com- pliment to the State and a great honor allke to him and to California Com- mandery. In 1901 the twenty-eighth Triennial Conclave was held in Louisville, XKy. California Commandery accompa- nied Grand Master Lloyd as escort, and again fully maintained her here- tofore well established reputation. Her generous membership provided the needed funds, and she returned bear- ing back laurels of distinction. And now—with zeal and generosity greater than ever before—California Commandery Is striving to do her part in welcoming and entertain- ing the thousands of fraters and friends who,will visit San Francisco and the State on s of Septem- ber. She is heartily joining her sister commanderies of the State in earnest effort to make the twenty-ninth Tri- ennial Conclave outrival all heretofore held in all the pomp and circumstance of excellence. Except the care exercised lection of her membership and the character of that membershin, noth- ing has conduced more to her present enviable status than the beneficent and encouraging efforts of her excellent drill corps. This sketch of her history would be incomplete without ~refer- ence to the potent influence of this chosen body of her members. Immediately after the Triennial Con~ clave held in the city of Washington in 1889, Past Commander Captain R. P. Hurlbut, no doubt induced by his natural aptitude and his knowledge of the tactics, as well as by what he had observed of the good effects of proper drill exercises upon the character of the work in a commandery, conceived the idea of selecting a suitable num- ber of the vounger and more active members. With him thought is the mother of action. He is characterized by unbounded enthusiasm, strong de- termination and a thorough under- standing of what is needed for suc- cess in this species of exercises. He understands the men under his charge, and how to treat, direct and instruct them. With persistency he drilled his corps and the good results of the drill were soon made manifest in the char- acter of the work in conferring the orders in the command We haz- ard nothing in saying, without boast, that it will be difficult to flnd any commandery excelling California Commandery in this important par- ticular. This excellence of work Is very greatly attributed to the perfec- tion of discinline in the drill corps. By the time of the conclave held in Denver, in 1892, the California Drill Corps was prepared to enter the in competitive drill. This it did, with plaudits won the first prize mounted corps. The mounted corps e tered the list again in 1901 at the Lou ville conclave and again won first prize. The commandery very generously addition to the amount given fc tertainment at Louisville, approp the sum of $3000 to aid the dril and a trophy iIs placed to its cred With the present able corps of offi- cers, an excellent membership and the stimulus of past successes, there is no reason to doubt that this great com- mandery will maintain the enviable rank among the commanderies of the State and the nation hitherto held. All those on her register are, as they should be, fully imbued with the great import- ance of harmony, and appreciating the lofty character of the principles and teachings of Templarism they will con- serve, preserve and add to the proud record they have so fitly earned in the past and so gloriously maintained. Of all the brilllant events that have been held under the auspices of Cali- fornia Commandery none brings a greater thrill of pride to the com- mandery members than the recollec~ , tion of the magnificent reception ac- corded to the late President Willlam McKinley, a member of Canton Com- mandery, Canton, Ohio, upon the oc- casion of his memorable visit here in May, 1901. The following descriptions of that function are taken from the report made to the commandery by General W, H. L. Barnes, chairman of the executive committee. * * * * Not less than 14,000 people crowded the Pavilion. The lofty but dingy and dusty rafters were swathed in the na- tional colors; banners and flags streamed and hung from every timber to which one could be fastened, and as the sunlight streamed through tha windows and fell in broad belts ot light upon the assemblage of brilliarf- 1y gowned women and quaintly hab. ed men there was presented a scene; which would not have dishonored the* coronation of an emperor. “Sir Knight McKinley, as he walk ed through the avenue of swords ex< tended from the eastern end of thq Pavilion to the great stage at'the west, exclaimed over and over again, ‘How beautiful!” * * ¢ The drill corps, commanded by Sir Knight Hurlbut, formed upon the floor the Templar emblem of eternity—the ring—and kneeling in unison, without comment, chanted the prayer of the Lord. Na one who witnessed that scene and heard the almost dlvine melody of those voices will ever forget eithen Sir Knight McKinley was deepl; moved. His eyes were suffused wita, tears and his lips devoutly followed the words addressed to ‘Our Father who art in heaven.’ California Com- mandery No. 1 has acquired a national reputation and will be distinguished in Masonic annals as the only Masonic body which, solely as such, has ever entertained the President of the Unit- ed States in his Masopic capacity alone.” the se- i, Yothon ot Aerr# 0